Racing-Inspired Concept Latest Aston Martin, Zagato Collaboration

GAYDON, U.K. – Aston Martin has revisited its longstanding association with Italian design house Zagato for the Vanquish Zagato Concept.

The super-stylish sports-tourer concept will make its global debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, held at Lake Como in Italy this weekend.

It’s the fifth car to emerge from the collaboration between the British automaker and Milan design house that stretches back more than 50 years starting with the DB4 GT Zagato of 1960 through to the V12 Vantage Zagato of 2011.

Developed and engineered at Aston Martin’s headquarters here, the concept’s bodywork is entirely sculpted from carbon fiber, with the split lines on the body reduced by the use of large 1-piece panels.

Round taillight reflectors and the same “bladed” LED technology as used on the Aston Martin Vulcan track-only supercar are among the design features.

The Vanquish Zagato Concept features Aston One-77-inspired wing mirrors and a rear end similar to the Aston Martin DB11’s aerodynamic profile, complete with retractable spoiler and rear hatch for access to the cargo compartment.

A quad-exhaust rests in rippling carbon-fiber sills that run around the lower body. Its glasswork wraps around the bodywork, resembling a racing visor. Another racing-inspired feature is the roof’s double-bubble profile, a Zagato trademark since the early 1950s to accommodate racing helmets with minimum impact on aerodynamics.

To match the bold exterior, the concept’s normally aspirated 6.0L V-12 engine has been uprated to 592 hp. Driving dynamics also are enhanced.

Signature Z decorates Vanquish Zagato Concept’s cabin.

Inside the cabin, herringbone carbon fiber is paired with shadow and anodized bronze and aniline leather to give the instrument panel, vents and rotary dials a touch of luxury. A unique Z quilt-pattern stitch is used on the seat and door sections, and the trademark Zagato Z is embossed on headrests and stitched into the center console.

“Over the years, we have developed and refined our own design language and we have always gone that little bit further with our special series cars like CC-100, One-77 and Aston Martin Vulcan,” says Marek Reichman, Aston Martin executive vice president and chief creative officer. “The Vanquish Zagato Concept shows how our two companies can come together and push the definition of Aston Martin design.”

Zagato CEO Andrea Zagato says the concept represents “represents the essence of an important design relationship that dates back over fifty years.”